Re: [dvd-discuss] Rhapsody in Blue and the death of Jazz

[Ernest Miller <ernest.miller(at)aya.yale.edu>]

D. C. Sessions wrote:
> On Sun, 2002-06-02 at 15:56, microlenz@earthlink.net wrote:
> 
> 
>>Look at the Scientology cases and tell me if copyright is not being used to 
>>stifle speech because it is critical. Copyright MUST be subjugated to the needs 
>>of the First Amendment. One cannot have freedom of speech if anything one 
>>writes, copies, parodies gets one slapped with a copyright infringement suit. 
>>That's a chilling effect.
>>
>>(BTW look at the Scientology cases. They are claiming copyright protection for 
>>things that are written but NOT published (i.e., made available to the 
>>public.). At best they should be "trade secrets")
> 
> 
> That's a pretty-much unavoidable consequence of automatic
> copyright without registration for unpublished works.  I
> can claim, and produce on demand, works that you are
> infringing.  I could even produce an earlier copy of the
> message above.
> 

Good luck proving it.